Transferring data between computers for collaboration or remote storage

ABSTRACT

Remotely communicating data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/227,328, filed Aug. 23, 2002, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of computer networking anddata storage. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relateto a distributed data storage and sharing system.

2. The Relevant Technology

Computer and data communications networks continue to proliferate due todeclining costs, increasing performance of computer and networkingequipment, and increasing demand for communication bandwidth.Communications networks, including wide area networks (“WANs”) and localarea networks (“LANs”), allow increased productivity and utilization ofdistributed computers or stations through the sharing of resources, thetransfer of voice and data, and the processing of voice, data andrelated information at the most efficient locations. Moreover, asorganizations have recognized the economic benefits of usingcommunications networks, network applications such as electronic mail,voice and data transfer, host access, and shared and distributeddatabases are increasingly used as a means to increase userproductivity. This increased demand, together with the growing number ofdistributed computing resources, has resulted in a rapid expansion ofthe number of installed networks.

As the demand for networks has increased, network technology has grownto include many different physical configurations. Such networks utilizedifferent cabling systems, different bandwidths and typically transmitdata at different speeds. In addition, each of the different networktypes have different sets of standards, referred to as protocols, whichset forth the rules for accessing the network and for communicatingamong the resources on the network. Historically, a majority ofinstalled networks have been wire-based. That is, the interconnectionsbetween clients, servers, and peripherals are accomplished with wire andcable-based connection systems. Depending on the size and type ofnetwork involved, the cost can be significant and the installation,maintenance and upgrading of such networks can be complex and requiresophisticated skills. Moreover, even the physical space needed fortoday's wire-based network systems can be prohibitive.

A key advantage of utilizing computer networks is the ability forindividual computers and users to share various resources on thenetwork. One important form of resource sharing is the ability toremotely store data from one computer or device onto a differentcomputer or device. For example, a laptop or portable computer attachedto the network could have the ability to store data on a large capacitydata storage device that is also connected to the network. Remotelystored data can be used as a primary data source or as a redundant datasource for reliability purposes. Because of frequent software andhardware failures, plus security breach issues, redundancy andreliability have become critical in current computer networks.Therefore, in order to properly “back up” and secure data, it should beencrypted and stored at a remote location.

Likewise, the ability to share data with various members of a computernetwork has also become important for allowing efficient methods ofremote collaboration. Online or remote collaboration has become animportant method of generating documents and reviewing existingdocuments. To facilitate this form of collaboration, a particular fileor segment of data must be accessible by all of the participatingparties. This can be done by either placing a copy of the file at eachof the locations or providing all participants access to a single file.The former solution is more favorable in many WAN scenarios because itdoes not rely on a single piece of hardware and is not limited bybandwidth. For example, many existing services provide the ability tostore data at a remote internet accessible location such that numerousparties can access the data and thereby collaborate. Unfortunately, thereliability of the Internet, the reliability of the service's hardware,and the limited bandwidth of the Internet limit the effectivecollaboration under this scheme. Therefore, for WAN applications, it ismore desirable to store a copy of the file at the location of everyparticipant involved in the collaboration.

Current networking software modules do not provide adequate mechanismsto allow for the dynamic storage of particular files or segments ofdata, whether for remote backup or collaboration purposes. Dynamicstorage refers to storing a segment of data and automatically replacingthe segment of data with a more current version at periodic intervals.Most existing network software modules allow users to manually transferdata from one location to another but do not update the data. If thepurpose of the remote data storage is to provide reliability for thefile, this is only achieved if the file is updated periodically so thatadditional data added to the original file after the initial transferare not lost in the event the original file is lost. If the purpose ofthe remote data storage is to facilitate online or remote collaboration,it is vital that the copies of the document at each location beperiodically updated so that each participant can see what each of theother participants are doing.

Most conventional systems that permit either remotely backing up data orsharing data with remote computers are expensive or require thespecialized skills of a network administrator or an informationtechnology professional. In spite of these costs and complexities, manybusiness or enterprise networks have been able to use such systems.However, most users of computers in home and small offices and mostusers of computers for personal rather than business purposes have beenunable to remotely back up data or conveniently share data with otherremote users.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems in the prior art are addressed by embodimentsof the present invention, which relates to a method of remotely storingdata between computers or devices across a wide area network (WAN) forapplications including redundancy and collaboration. Moreover, themethod includes security features that are important for securing datatransferred over large distances. The security features includeencrypting all transfers of data between remotely located computers ordevices, requiring specific identification of the destination computerdevice, and obtaining permission from the destination device before anydata is transferred from the initiating device to the destinationdevice. The method enables computers connected to a service to transferdynamic copies of data to selected computers or devices that are alsoconnected to the service. Dynamic copies will automatically be updatedin response to predetermined criteria. All data communications betweenthe computers or devices are brokered or routed by the service.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method for storing data ata remotely located device begins with an initiating computer identifyinga remote device on which to store a segment of data. Both the remotedevice and the initiating computer are registered with a service. Theremote device is a computer, a network appliance, or another computingdevice that has sufficient data storage capabilities. Next, theinitiating computer receives permission to store the segment of data onthe remote device. The act of receiving permission ensures that theinitiating device is explicitly authorized to store data on a particularremote computer registered with the service instead of being able tostore data secretly on any such remote computer. Finally, the initiatingcomputer transfers the segment of data to the service. The service thenbrokers or transfers the segment of data to the remote device. Thesegment of data at the remote device is dynamically updated byperiodically overwriting the existing segment of data with a newerversion of the segment of data from the initiating computer.

This method overcomes the limitations of the prior art by facilitatingthe automatic updating of a particular copy of a segment of data that istransferred to a remote location. This method applies to scenarios thatinclude remote backup of data and remote online collaboration (e.g.,data editing or sharing) with respect to a segment of data. Both ofthese applications are more effective when the copy of data stored atthe remote location is as up to date as possible.

In this manner, a computer user who is registered with the service canback up data in a remote location in a simple and cost-effective way.When data is remotely backed up according to the invention, the data isencrypted and stored on a data storage device owned and operated by athird party, who may be a trusted acquaintance of the user of theinitiating computer or may be any other user who is also registered withthe service. Thus, remote data storage for backup purposes can beobtained by substantially any computer user using this peer-to-peermodel, including those of home or small offices or home personalcomputers. Similarly, the invention permits substantially any computerusers with access to the Internet to establish virtual local areanetworks with remote users and to thereby engage in real timecollaboration over a WAN with respect to data.

The foregoing, together with other features and advantages of thepresent invention, will become more apparent when referred to thefollowing specification, claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantagesand features of the invention are obtained, a more particulardescription of the invention briefly described above will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in theappended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be consideredlimiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explainedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a distributednetworking environment configured to implement one embodiment of thepresent invention to enable the remote storage of data and or thesharing of data between remotely located computers;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate the request and permission procedures bywhich an initiating computer receives authorization to store data on aremote destination device;

FIG. 2 c illustrates a method of storing data remotely at thedestination device for purposes of remote backup of the data afterpermission has been granted;

FIG. 2 d illustrates a method of storing data remotely for purposes ofremote data collaboration after permission has been granted; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of an alternativenetworking environment configured to implement an alternative embodimentof the present invention to enable the remote storage of data and or thesharing of data between remotely located computers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe presentlypreferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that thedrawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of the presentlypreferred embodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention,nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

In general the present invention relates to a method of remotely storingdata between computers or devices across a wide area network (WAN) forapplications including redundancy and collaboration. Moreover, themethod includes security features that are important for securing datatransferred over large distances. The security features includeencrypting all data transferred between the initiating computer and theremote device, requiring specific identification of the destinationcomputer device and obtaining permission from the destination devicebefore any data is transferred from the initiating device to thedestination device. The method enables computers connected to a serviceto transfer dynamic copies of data to selected computers or devices thatare also connected to the service. Dynamic copies are automaticallyupdated in response to predetermined criteria. All data communicationsbetween the computers or devices are brokered or routed by the service.

I. Exemplary Network Architecture

Reference is next made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a functional blockdiagram of a distributed networking environment configured to implementa presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, designatedgenerally at 10. The network environment 10 further includes a service12 and three local computer groups A (20), B (22), and C (24). Theservice 12 utilizes a server or multiple servers having hardware andsoftware that perform brokering services for data that is transferredbetween the various local groups A, B and C. Groups A, B and C areconnected to the service 12 via connections 30, 32 and 34, which, inthis embodiment are data pathways or segments of the Internet. Theservice 12 and each of the groups A, B and C are individually connectedto the Internet via some form of access means that can include, but arenot limited to a T1 line, DSL or other broadband access, dial-up modems,etc. Groups A, B and C can be substantially any local entities thatimplement a local network, such as home offices, small offices, homenetworks, individual computers, enterprise networks, etc.

Each of the groups A, B and C registers with the service in order toestablish a valid data connection. The registration process furtherincludes collecting information about a potential group, analyzing theinformation and, if the information meets a set of predeterminedcriteria, registering the group with the service 12. The service 12 istherefore networked with the registered groups A, B and C via theInternet in this embodiment. Alternatively, the service 12 can beconnected to the groups A, B and C via some other form of large scalecomputer network, such as a metropolitan WAN or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, groups A, B and C include appliance 40, 42 and 44,respectively. The appliances 40, 42 and 44 perform local brokeringroutines for all data transferred between the service 12 and any of thecomputers within the appliance's unique group. The appliance includes acomputer device running a software module to perform the various localbrokering routines. The appliances 40, 42 and 44 also provide aninterface for communications with the service 12. As discussed above,the service interface in this embodiment can be any suitable hardwareand software modules that facilitate a connection to the Internet.Alternatively, this service interface can include a network interfacecard (NIC) for connecting with a wide area network that provides theconnection between the individual groups and the service 12.

The individual groups A, B and C further include at least one computeror device that is connected to the appliance. In this embodiment, theappliances 40, 42 and 44 are connected to the computers in their groupsvia a wireless interface. The use of wireless communication for thepurpose of data transfer between appliances 40, 42 and 44 and othernetwork components within the particular groups is often preferred,since wireless networks do not require specific types of wiring of thebuilding in which the network is implemented. In other embodiments,however, communication between the appliances and the computers in thegroups can be implemented using cables or other physical connections onwhich electrical or optical signals are transmitted between the networkcomponents using any suitable conventional protocol. The groups can havesubstantially any number of computers which, as used herein, should bebroadly construed to extend to any computing device that can generate oruse data that is to be transmitted to a remote appliance or computer foruse or storage. While FIG. 4, which is discussed below, presents oneexample of a computer that can be used in any of the groups A, B or C,the computers can instead be hand-held devices, portable devices,Internet terminals or appliances, or other computing devices thatgenerate data or have the need for storing data.

According to the example of FIG. 1, group A includes computers a, (50)and a₂ (52). Group B includes computers b₁ (54), b₂ (56) and b₃ (58).Group C includes computers c₁ (60), c₂ (62), C₃ (64) and c₄ (66). Boththe computers in groups A, B and C and the appliances 40, 42 and 44contain hardware and software modules to enable the exchange of dataacross the wireless interface, which can utilize, for example, the IEEE802.11(a) or 802.11(b) standards. Alternatively, the wireless interfacecan utilize a Bluetooth or Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) format for datatransfers. The computers and the appliance within each group therebyform a local wireless network. For example, in Group C, appliance 44 isconnected with computers c₁, c₂, c₃ and c4. In addition, the computersand the appliance can also be connected via physical cabling. In thiscase, the wired connection scheme between the computers and theappliance conforms to a particular networking standard, such asEthernet, Token Ring, USB, etc.

While the invention can be practiced in any of a number of networkconfigurations, the appliances 40, 42 and 44, according to oneembodiment of the invention, are computing devices that contain a harddrive to store data locally for the computers in their groups. Theappliances 40, 42 and 44, according to this embodiment, provideredundant local data storage services for local computers within thegroups of the appliances, as well as local data sharing andcollaboration services for computers within the groups of theappliances. Because of the data storage capabilities of the appliances,the data that is stored remotely according to the invention can bestored directly on a remote appliance. Alternatively, the remoteappliance can broker the transfer of the data to a computer within theremote appliance's group for storage thereon.

II. Request and Permission Procedures

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate the method for establishing communicationbetween computers or appliances in different groups and initiating datatransfer between groups. In general, data is stored remotely only uponthe initiating computer, which initiates the transfer of data to bestored remotely, being recognized by the destination device as beingauthorized to store the data remotely on the destination device. As usedherein, the term “initiating computer” refers to the computing devicethat requests remote storage of its data on a remote destination device.The initiating computer can be an appliance, a computer associated withan appliance, or other computing devices. The “destination device”refers to the computing device that is targeted by the initiating devicefor remote storage of data. Likewise, the destination device can be anappliance, a computer associated with an appliance, or other computingdevices. The remote storage of data, as explained in greater detailbelow, can be performed for remote backup or data collaborationpurposes.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate the request and permission procedures bywhich an initiating computer is permitted to initiate the remote storageof its data. The request and permission procedures ensure that theinitiating computer stores the data on a remote computer only when theinitiating computer is authorized to do so. This approach to remotestorage of data enables peer-to-peer remote backup or data collaborationonly when both parties give their consent to the transaction. Moreover,the use of this peer-to-peer model can make remote backup and datacollaboration services accessible to substantially any computer userwithout the expenses associated with conventional remote data storageand networking systems, since both parties to the transaction are peersor, in other words, can be individual computer users, users in small orhome offices, etc. Thus, in this manner, any two computer users who haveaccess to the Internet can establish the peer-to-peer remote datastorage and data collaboration system.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b depict a portion of Groups A and C of FIG. 1. However,it is to be understood that the data transmission and remote storagemethods of the invention can be performed between any two groupsaccording to the invention. The request and permission procedure beginswith an initiating computer which, in this example is computer a₂,identifying a remote device upon which to store data. The remote devicemust also be connected to and registered with the service. For example,computer a₂ of group A identifies appliance 44 of Group C for remotedata storage. Thus, appliance 44 represents a destination device onwhich data from computer a₂ is to be remotely stored. The destinationdevice can be any appliance or computer within a remote group that hasdata storage capabilities. In the following example, appliance 44 is thedestination device, although other computing devices in group C or otherremote groups having data storage capabilities can be the destinationdevice. The identification of the destination device is performed by theuser of computer a₂ identifying appliance 44 without viewing a list ofcomputers that are connected to or registered with the service 12. Thisrequirement ensures that the initiating computer that initiates theprocess of data transfer and remote storage has a certain level offamiliarity with the destination device before requesting to remotelystore data.

Alternatively, a modified list of available storage devices connectedand registered with service 12 can be displayed on a user interface ofthe initiating computer a₂ to facilitate the identification of thedestination device. In this alternative embodiment, the modified list iscustomized to the particular initiating computer to include only thosecomputers that have previously accepted the role of being potentialdestination devices on which the initiating computer can store data. Ineither of these cases, the destination device (e.g., appliance 44) isoperated by a user who is trusted by the user of the initiating computera₂ to receive the data. Depending on the nature of those who areregistered with the service, the user of destination device (e.g.,appliance 44) could be a friend or family member, another acquaintance,a co-worker in the same business entity, or simply a person who hasagreed to permit the user of initiating computer a₂ to remotely storedata at the destination device . In the event of an appliance ratherthan a computer (e.g., computer C₃ of group C) being identified as adestination device, the user of the appliance who has consented topermit the appliance to be used for remote data storage purposes can bean appropriate user of one of the computers in the group (e.g., a userof computer c₃).

As shown in FIG. 2 a, a request 70 is generated by computer a₂ (i.e.,the initiating computer). The request includes information identifyingthe destination device (e.g., appliance 44), such as a network addressof the destination device that is recognized by service 12. The request70 is then brokered by the local appliance 40 associated with theinitiating computer, which involves forwarding the request 70 to service12. Service 12 can then broker the request 70 by forwarding the requestto the remote appliance in the group that includes the destinationdevice. Alternatively, prior to brokering the request 70, the service 12can send a verification request 72 to the initiating computer a₂ askingthe user of the initiating computer to verify that request 70 identifiesthe proper destination device.

The process of locally brokering data transmissions by the appliances 40and 44 is performed by receiving data transmissions, such as request 70,from one of the connected computers a₂ and c₃, respectively, or from theservice 12, and then identifying the destination of the request. If thedestination of the request identifies a computer or device connecteddirectly to the appliance, the appliance routes the request directly tothe computer or device. If the destination identifies a computer ordevice not connected directly to the appliance, the appliance routes therequest to the service 12. This brokering process is performed by asoftware module on a processing device located within the appliance.Likewise, the broad brokering process performed by the service 12includes analyzing the destination of the request and then routing therequest to the destination appliance.

As shown in FIG. 2 b, service 12 forwards request 70 to the appliance 44in the group that includes the destination device. As noted above,appliance 44 in this example is the destination device. In otherimplementations, however, the destination device can be a computer(e.g., computer c₃) that is connected to appliance 44. Once the requesthas been transmitted to appliance 44, a determination is made as towhether permission for the initiating computer a₂ to remotely store datashould be granted in response to the request.

The decision as to whether the initiating computer a₂ is authorized tostore data remotely on the destination device can be made in any of avariety of ways, depending on the information that is included in therequest and the degree to which a human user is to make the decisions.For instance, the request can include information identifying theinitiating computer, information identifying the destination device, anda password or other code. If the request includes a password or anothercode, the password or code can be used to verify that the user of theinitiating computer has some personal knowledge of the destinationdevice, which presumably has been given to the user of the initiatingcomputer by an authorized user associated with the destination device.For instance, the password or code can be given by the user of thedestination device to the user of the initiating computer so as toenable the initiating computer to generate a request for remote datastorage services that can be automatically granted by the destinationdevice. As used herein, the term “password” represents any informationthat is used to verify that the user of the initiating computer that hasinitiated the request has specific knowledge of the destination devicethat has been supplied by a user of the destination device.

Implementations using a password or other code in the request areparticularly useful for enabling a user of a destination device to granttrusted third parties (i.e., trusted users of potential initiatingcomputers) the ability to cause their data to be stored remotely on thedestination device. In effect, the user of the destination devicethereby enables trusted third parties to access the destination devicefor remote storage purposes, which can greatly simplify the process ofobtaining remote storage of data, since substantially any computer userscan participate in the services described herein without requiringelaborate networks and sophisticated knowledge of networking technology.

As noted above, the decision as to whether to grant permission can bemade either manually or automatically based on the recognition of thepresence of the password or other code in the request made by theinitiating computer. Alternatively, the decision as to whether to grantthe permission can be made based on the identification of the initiatingcomputer or the identification of the user of the initiating computer,as specified in the request. This permission can also be granted eithermanually or automatically. Moreover, the permission can be granted for asingle transaction or can be granted for a temporary or an indefiniteamount of time, which permits the initiating computer to transmitmultiple segments of data to the destination device over a period oftime.

Assuming that a human user is to decide in the example of FIG. 2 bwhether to grant permission, the destination appliance 44, uponreceiving request 70, brokers the request to a computer that isassociated with a user who is authorized to grant permission in responseto the request. This computer is referred to herein as the “destinationcomputer” regardless of whether it or the associated appliance is thedestination device that has been requested for the data storage. Thereceipt of a request at the destination computer causes the destinationcomputer to prompt the user to grant or deny permission for theinitiating computer to store data on the destination device. If the userof the destination computer decides to grant permission, the destinationcomputer transfers data representing the permission back through thedestination appliance 44, service 12, the initiating appliance 40 and,if necessary, to the initiating computer a₂. In this manner theinitiating computer a₂ and/or the appliance 40 associated with theinitiating computer receives the data representing the permission tostore data on the destination device. The process by which thepermission is transferred from the destination computer c₃ to theinitiating computer a₂ is similar to the process by which the request istransferred from the initiating computer a₂ to the destination computerc₃. The initiating appliance 40 and destination appliance 44 perform thelocal brokering process described above, and the service 12 performs thebroad brokering process described above.

III. Remote Data Storage

FIG. 2 c illustrates the process of remotely storing data for backuppurposes after permission has been granted as described above inreference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. After the permission is transferred fromthe destination computer c₃ back to the initiating computer a₂, theinitiating computer transfers the segment of data 76 to the initiatingappliance 40, such that the segment of data is brokered to the service12, and then to the remote appliance 44. In this example, remoteappliance 44 is itself the destination device. Thus, when remoteappliance 44 receives the segment of data 76, the data has beentransferred to the destination device for remote storage. In this case,the destination appliance 44 itself stores the data in storage device80. Although the appliance 44 is designated as the destination device inthis example, one of the computers, such as computer c₃, could insteadbe designated as the remote destination device.

When the data is stored for remote backup purposes, as in the example ofFIG. 2 c, the data is generally encrypted prior to transmission from theinitiating computer with an encryption key that is not available to theuser of the destination computer. Although the user of the destinationcomputer is often a person who is trusted by the user of the initiatingcomputer, the data is typically encrypted in this manner so as tofurther ensure the security of the backed up data. Nonetheless, whileencryption provides clear and significant advantages when used with theremote backup of data, the invention also extends to implementations ofthe systems described herein that use other forms of encryption or noneat all.

If the purpose of the remote storage of the segment of data 76 is toprovide reliability or redundancy of the information contained withinthe segment of data, it is important to maintain a current copy of thesegment of data on the initiating device so as to minimize the amount ofdata loss in the event one copy of the data is destroyed. Likewise, ifthe purpose of the remote storage of the segment of data is to performonline remote collaboration, as will be further discussed below inreference to FIG. 2 d, it is important for each of the collaborators tosee any changes made by the other collaborators as often as possible.

With a backup version of the segment of data 76 remotely stored instorage device 80, the initiating computer 76 can access the remotelystored version of the segment of data as needed. For instance, if thelocal copy of the segment of data 76 is corrupted or physically lost atthe initiating computer, the remote copy thereof can be obtained fromstorage device 80 using a read request process that is brokered by theappliance 40, the service 12 and, if necessary, appliance 44.

IV. Remote Data Collaboration

FIG. 2 d illustrates the process of transmitting data to a remotedestination device for data collaboration purposes after permission hasbeen granted as described above in reference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. Afterthe permission is transferred from the destination computer c₃ back tothe initiating computer a₂, the initiating computer transfers thesegment of data 76 to the initiating appliance 40, such that the segmentof data is brokered to the service 12, and then to the remote appliance44. In this example, the destination device is computer c₃, in whichcase, remote appliance 44 brokers the transfer of the segment of data 76to the destination device. The segment of data 76 is then stored in astorage device 82 associated with computer c₃. Storing the segment ofdata 76 on the storage device 82 of computer c₃ permits the user ofcomputer c₃ to conveniently access the data and collaborate with theuser of the initiating computer a₂. However, the segment of data 76 canalternatively be stored on a storage device associated with appliance44, as shown in FIG. 2 c, so as to enable multiple computers withingroup C to conveniently access the data.

The process of storing the segment of data 76 on storage device 82 canbe performed in a manner such that the segment of data is dynamicallyupdated at the destination device periodically as the segment of data ismodified at the initiating computer a₂. Dynamically updating a segmentof data includes periodically overwriting the existing segment of databy transferring a newer version thereof from the initiating computer a₂to the destination device. This dynamic updating of the segment of datacan be performed in the embodiment of FIG. 2 c, in which the data isstored for backup purposes, or in the embodiment of FIG. 2 d, in whichthe data is stored for collaboration purposes.

In addition, lock out features can be included on the remote copies ofthe segment of data 76 to avoid collisions during online or remotecollaboration. A collision occurs when more than one participant in acollaboration modifies a duplicate document at the same time and thenboth versions of the document are copied to all of the participants. Itis preferable to lock all copies of a document while one participant ismodifying the document and then releasing the document when he or she iscomplete. Alternatively, a document merging system can be generatedwhich would allow multiple participants to create different versions ofthe same document. The document merging system would then merge themodifications made by all of the participants into a unified document.

The segment of data remotely stored on the destination device isdynamically updated or overwritten in response to predeterminedcriteria. The predetermined criteria can be, for example, a rule thatspecifies that the remotely stored segment of data is to beautomatically updated after a certain period of time has elapsed withoutupdating. Alternately, the predetermined criteria can be a rulespecifying that the remotely stored segment of data is to be updated inresponse to a particular event, such as an update request by a user ofthe initiating computer. The process by which the segment of data isautomatically transferred from the initiating computer to thedestination computer is similar to the process by which the request istransferred.

When data is stored remotely in order to facilitate remote collaborationbetween multiple users, the data is to be accessible by all of theauthorized users in an unencrypted state. However, in the collaborationimplementation of the invention, encryption can be used during datatransmission using, for example, a private key/public key encryptiontechnique that prevents unauthorized persons from accessing the data.These or other encryption techniques that will be understood by those ofskill in the relevant art upon learning of the disclosure made hereincan be used for the transmission of the data itself as well as thetransmission of the request and permission.

When the segment of data 76 is received by the destination device forcollaboration purposes, the destination device can modify the segment ofdata as instructed by the user of the destination device. In thismanner, the destination device generates a modified version of thesegment of data, which can be transmitted back to the initiating devicevia the appliances and the service. Moreover, the data collaborationtechniques of the invention can be scaled for use with more than twocomputers and more than two groups and their associated appliances.Using the techniques described herein, substantially any set of computerusers having access to the Internet can establish a virtual local areanetwork in an inexpensive and convenient manner so as to achieve remotedata collaboration or data storage.

V. Data Brokering and Data Transmission Features of Appliances

According to one embodiment of the invention, and as described above inreference to FIG. 1, appliances 40, 42 and 44 of FIG. 1 are computingdevices having mass data storage capabilities that provide the localservices of data storage and data collaboration and sharing amongcomputers within the groups of the appliances. These appliances enablecomputer users in large or small enterprises, home office, smalloffices, and home networks, to conveniently back up data locally andshare data between computers in the local network. In effect, FIG. 1illustrates a distributed network of multiple groups A, B and C, eachhaving its own appliance 40, 42 and 44, with communication between thegroups being facilitated and brokered by service 12. Thus, theregistration of multiple appliances 40, 42 and 44 with service 12expands the utility of the individual appliances. In particular, themultiple distributed appliances 40, 42 and 44 enables users of computerswith the local groups to utilize remote appliances for backup and datacollaboration purposes. Moreover, the multiple appliances 40, 42 and 44provide the advantages of the remote data backup and remote datacollaboration, thereby providing inexpensive, easily accessible networkservices to substantially any computer user who obtains an appliance 40,42 or 44 and is able to connect to the Internet.

One benefit of using appliances 40, 42 and 44 for facilitating thetransfer of data is that the appliances can be specialized devices thatcan more efficiently perform the data storage and data transmission thana general purpose personal computer. For instance, appliances 40, 42 and44 can have significantly large hard drives, which permit them to managedata for a large number of associated computers in their group, as wellas for remote computers according to the techniques described herein. Inaddition, because the Internet connections used by, for example,appliance 40 of group A and appliance 44 of group C can have differentdata transmission rates, the appliances can be used to buffer the datatransfer between groups so as to appear seamless from the perspective ofthe associated computers in the groups. In many instances, especiallyfor backup applications of the invention, the data transfer rate doesnot need to be particularly high. Thus, if a local appliance 40 has aconnection to the service 12 having a high data transmission rate, whilethe remote appliance 44 has a slower connection to service 12, the localappliance can buffer the data or otherwise introduce latency to the datatransmission so as to make it compatible with the slower connection ofthe remote appliance 44. Alternatively, service 12 can compensate forthe slower connection to remote appliance 44 in a similar manner.

VI. Alternative Network Architectures

Reference is next made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a functional blockdiagram of a networking environment configured to implement analternative embodiment of the present invention, designated generally at300. According to this alternative embodiment, the appliances 40, 42 and44 of FIG. 1 are either not present, or the functionality of theappliances as described above is performed by a general purposecomputer. The networking environment 300 includes a service 12 and aplurality of computers or devices connected to the service. The service12 and its functions are described in more detail with reference toFIG. 1. The individual computers 310, 315, 320, 325 are connected to theservice directly or indirectly via connectors 312, 317, 322. Each of thecomputers 310, 315, 320, 325 must be registered with the service inorder to establish a valid data connection over the Internet. Theregistration process further includes collecting information about a newcomputer, analyzing the information, and if the information meets a setof predetermined criteria, registering the computer with the service 12.In this embodiment, the connectors 312, 317, 322 represent portions ofthe Internet allowing for data communication between each of thecomputers 310, 315, 320, 325 and the service 12. Rather than a directconnection to the Internet, computer 325 is connected to computer 320via a networking connection. This type of connection allows computer 320to access the Internet and service 12 despite not being directlyconnected to the Internet or service 12.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, a method by which an individualcomputer can store data on a remotely located computer can beimplemented in the illustrated environment. The method used to remotelystore data in this environment is substantially the same as the methodemployed to remotely store data described in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2a-2 d. One difference, however, is the lack of appliances in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, all transfers of databetween remote computers are made directly to service 12, which thenbrokers them to the proper remote computer. This process eliminates theneed for some of the local brokering performed by the appliances in themethod described in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 a-2 d. The localbrokering procedures can be incorporated into the software moduleswithin the individual computers 310, 315, 320, 325, such as in the caseof computer 320 brokering all communication to and from computer 325.Alternatively, the need for local brokering can be completely eliminatedby directly connecting each of the computers 310, 315, 320, 325 to theservice 12.

The following discussion provides an additional general description ofexamples of suitable computing environments in which embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented. Although not required, embodimentsof the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by computers operating within network environments. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated datastructures, and program modules represent examples of the program codemeans for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. Theparticular sequence of such executable instructions or associated datastructures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementingthe functions described in such steps.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of theinvention may be practiced in network computing environments with manytypes of computer system configurations, including personal computers,hand-held devices, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants(“PDAs”), multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where local and remote processing devices arelinked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combinationof hardwired or wireless links) through a communications network andboth the local and remote processing devices perform tasks.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. In a server included in a network, a method of facilitating thetransfer of data between an initiating computer included in the networkand a destination device also included in the network, comprising:receiving a request from the initiating computer for permission to storea segment of data at a destination device, the request identifying thedestination device, wherein the destination device is remote withrespect to the initiating computer; transmitting the request to thedestination device; receiving data representing the permission from thedestination device, the data representing the permission indicating thatthe destination device has granted the permission; and only uponreceiving the data representing the permission, transmitting the segmentof the data to the destination device for storage thereon.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the segment of data transmitted to the destinationdevice is encrypted, such that the segment of data is inaccessible by auser of the destination device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thesegment of data represents a backup version of data, the method furthercomprising the initiating device accessing the segment of the datastored on the destination device so as to access the backup version. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the segment of the data isperformed so as to permit data collaboration between users of theinitiating computer and the destination device, the method furthercomprising the acts of: receiving a modified version of the segment ofdata from the destination device; and transmitting the modified versionto the initiating device so as to facilitate the data collaboration. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes a password of thedestination device, the password having been provided by a user of thedestination device to a user of the initiating computer.
 6. The methodof claim 5, wherein receiving data representing permission is performedin response to the destination device performing the acts of:recognizing the password included in the request; and automatically andwithout user input determining that the permission is to be grantedbased on recognizing the password.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein therequest is received from an appliance associated with the initiatingcomputer, the appliance brokering the request to the server on behalf ofthe initiating computer.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmittingthe request to the destination device comprises comparing the identifieddestination device with a list of remote computing devices connected tothe server.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein communication between theinitiating computer and the server, including the communication of thepermission and the transferred segment of data are brokered through anappliance associated with the initiating computer.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the request received at the server is generated at theinitiating computer after the remote device is identified at theinitiating computer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the remotedevice is identified at the initiating computer without presenting to auser of the initiating computer a list of remote devices that areregistered with the network.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein theremote device is identified at the initiating computer by receiving atthe initiating computer information identifying the remote device from auser of the initiating computer.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein theinformation identifying the remote device comprises a password of theremote device.
 14. In a server included in a network, a method offacilitating the transfer of data between an initiating computerincluded in the network and a destination device also included in thenetwork to permit data collaboration between users of the initiatingcomputer and the destination device, comprising: receiving a requestfrom an appliance associated with the initiating computer for permissionto store a segment of data at a destination device, the requestidentifying the destination device, wherein the destination device isremote with respect to the initiating computer and the appliance brokersthe request to the server on behalf of the initiating computer;transmitting the request to the destination device; receiving datarepresenting the permission from the destination device, the datarepresenting the permission indicating that the destination device hasgranted the permission; only upon receiving the data representing thepermission, transmitting the segment of the data to the destinationdevice for storage thereon; after the segment of data is transmitted tothe destination device, receiving a modified version of the segment ofdata from the destination device; and transmitting the modified versionto the initiating device so as to facilitate the data collaboration. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the request comprises informationidentifying the remote device, including a password of the remote deviceprovided by a user of the initiating computer.